lego activity table


This applies, in whatever way the Spaniards may have obtained them: whether it be in just war; or if the Indians themselves have sold them to the Spaniards, saying that they are slaves; or even if among them these are actually slaves; or by any other means, and in any manner whatsoever.

  1. lego activity table
 by the ship in which i came the augustinian fathers brought a new decree from your majesty, ordering with much rigor, and in strong terms, that the spaniards shall at once liberate the slaves whom they may hold, under whatever circumstances they may have obtained them.
this was presented to the governor, for i talked with him about it. but, to show that what i say above is true--that no decree in favor of the indians is ever enforced--since this decree was presented the indians are still in the same servitude as formerly, and some of them are even worse treated than in the past. the governor did not so long delay to enforce the decree (if there be one) relative to taking a fifth of the gold; for the first thing that he did on entering his office was to demand the fifth, while the decree regarding liberty is yet to be executed. i have passed over many things in this connection which, if written here, would be annoying to your majesty.
a document in behalf of the city is being prepared which proves the great necessity in this country for servitude. it states that the spaniards undergo much toil, and most of them many hardships, and that there is much need that your majesty should aid and favor them; but asks that this be done by allowing them to hold slaves. your majesty will order this to be carefully examined, for it is a certain and well-established fact (and admitted by the very persons who hold and attempt to gain possession of slaves) that although among the indians there are some who are really slaves, these are few; and that, rather than sell these now, the indians will sell one of their children. all others are wrongfully obtained and unjustly enslaved--as would be done by a people so barbarous as this, who at this very time sell a relative for gain, and among whom the more powerful will sell the weaker. most of those who today are in manila as slaves are of this class.
as soon as this decree was presented to him, the governor asked me to advise him what he should do. accordingly, i convened the superiors of the orders, and the religious therein who had long resided here, with some very learned men who came with me. all of them, without one exception, were of one opinion, a copy of which goes with this letter; your majesty will please order it to be examined--although it profits little, because proclamation of the decree and orders that it be obeyed were not issued until march of this year. would to god that it had not been proclaimed! because before that the masters were afraid, and had already determined to give their slaves liberty, seeing that they were urged thereto in the confessional.
but when the decree was proclaimed, and the petition which the city referred to your majesty was granted, all returned to their obstinacy. upon seeing this, i again convened the fathers and priests, and we agreed to admit the owner of slaves to confession, but on condition that they make no objection to what your majesty may order; or that within two years from the departure of this ship (the term assigned to them by your majesty) they should free the slaves. but i am sure that if your majesty does not renew your order the masters would not release them, if two years or even twenty should pass. it is a great hardship, and a scandal, to have to deny them confession; and many say that they will not release their slaves until your majesty so orders, even though they remain without confession. the decrees made by the city and by the protector of the indians are being sent to you. your majesty will order examination of them, and whatever else may be proper, and command accordingly; because, although i have been of the opinion that for the present the masters may be absolved, many of the religious refuse to do so unless the slaves are first given their liberty.
it is next in order to inform your majesty of what is done here with the prelates; [36] it is as follows: when a spaniard comes to this country he is at once ordered to serve under the flag, although he may be a merchant who comes here to buy and sell. the authorities say that for the present it seems proper to allow the merchants to depend upon their merchandise, and the encomenderos to live upon their encomiendas. all the rest live a very poor and wretched life; for they are not supplied with any provisions, nor do they possess means to procure food and clothing. notwithstanding all this, they are ordered with great severity to assist the sentinels and aid in other duties of war, just as if they were well paid.
hence ensue oppression and ill-treatment of the indians; for sometimes when an indian has some food that he has cooked for his own meal, a soldier enters and takes it away from him. not only that; they also maltreat and beat the indians, and when i, being near at hand, go to them and reprimand them for it, they say to me: "what is to be done? must we be left to die?" i assure your majesty that in this matter i suffer an intolerable torment; because all come to me with their troubles, and i have not the means to remedy them. moreover, the encomenderos refuse to tithes, although they have been ordered to so; nor can the royal officials pay me what your majesty orders to given me from your royal treasury, because they assert that no adequate instructions are sent them.
thus i am without means for or the poor. the former governors were accustomed to among the poor soldiers some of rice paid to majesty as , in that they might endure their misery; but not even this is to them.. ..